Gave birth 6 weeks ago but still look pregnant :-(

[MrFranklyShankly]

Hi ladies

I have a gorgeous new she's just beautiful but I'm getting really down about the way I look. I still look very pregnant. I know I have a good bit of weight on and will eventually come around to loosing it I did with my other dds, but it took a while....I'm just really worried this time I've destroyed my stomach muscles and I will never get rid of this pregnant look. I know it's all very superficial but other people have made so many comments to me about it and its really starting to get to me. I was really active before I got pregnant was running and walking loads, and I did try to do some walking last week but found it hard as I'm just sooo tired with getting up a few times a night with dd, dh told me its way too early yet and to just to enjoy dd but its really getting to me and getting in the way of my enjoyment of my gorgeous dd.....any advice ladies, please tell me it's normal to still look like this at this stage?????

Thanks

Frankly

[KarmaBiatch]

hi Frankly

try drinking raspberry leaf tea, it helps reduce your uterus back to normal size quicker than if you weren't to drink it!

[MrFranklyShankly]

Thanks karmabiatch never thought of that will give it a go ;-)

[ImFineThankYou]

Frankly PLEASE give yourself a break! It's been 6 weeks, that's nothing! Seriously, you need to relax and stop worrying (there's enough else for you to worry about with a new baby). Congratulations on baby

[differentnameforthis]

Of course you do, because it takes time.

It isn't like is celeb life. The celebs are either photoshopped within an inch of their life, or have constantly been at the gym since the baby was born.

Give your body time to go back how it was. It took 9mths to get to where it is, it isn't going to go back overnight.

[MrFranklyShankly]

Thanks I'm fine, yeah I know at the back of my head i know really I just need to relax a bit and just look after me and the dds and never mind about what others think...and times I'm grand just other times I feel rubbish.....will try and just enjoy new dd now a bit more, thanks for the congrats

[badguider]

You should not worry at all about how you look right now, and don't worry about burning any excess fat yet until you have the energy.

But, if you're worried about how you function and how your body is recovering, then you need to find out if your uterus has contracted back into your pelvis (ask a mw or gp to feel) and then if you have a larger than usual separation of your stomach muscles 'diastasis recti'.

You can see this website diastasisrehab.com/ to diagnose if you have this and (If you're ready) to see how to tackle it... but there's no rush if you're not ready yet.

Is there a post-partum exercise class in your area? Near me there's one run by a senior midwife where you can take your baby along with you. It's not about getting a beautiful body, just about supporting you to help your core and pelvic floor to recover so you feel you can bend and move and lift again with freedom from worry.

[MrFranklyShankly]

Thanks ladies, my mum said the same thing, it took 9 months to get this way, and she was a big enough baby too, I'm just a bit miffed still wearing maternity clothes, just feels wrong! I am more worried about the fact that I could have muscle separation badguider I have my 6 week check up 2morrow so will ask the gp then, no there's nothing like that where I live would love to have a class like that to go to sounds good, will check out the website badguider thanks

[princesscupcakemummyb]

hello FranklyShankly i was the same after mine i lost weight fairly quick after my 1st but after dc 2 it took me about a year before i started to lose weight my own fault to be fair as i wasent that bothered im now expecting dc3 due november havent gained that much weight this time mainly due to bad food adversions and sickness anyway just wanted to say a big congratulations in your new your baby dont rush your self hun it will go you have plenty of time as other said its not like the celebs they are allways at they gym after birth take care :)

[MrFranklyShankly]

Thanks princess, and congrats on your pregnancy I know really it shouldn't be my main concern at the mo, don't know why I'm so conscious of it this time it didn't bother me at all last time, I knew it would go at some point...and dh is so supportive about it, I just feel horrible, lugging all this weight around, I was so determined to stay in shape this time but that went by the way side after I had bleeding in the early weeks, was so scared of loosing my little bean, so I should really be happy she's here now like you say I'll get there at some point. Good luck with no 2 ;-)

[MrFranklyShankly]

Sorry I meant no3!!! Total baby brain!!!!

[BalloonSlayer]

Did you notice that in the recent photos just released of Kate & William and baby prince, all the blurb says that Kate is wearing a £46 MATERNITY dress?

Blimey if she, a first-time Mum, with her washboard pre-pregnancy abs, probably slightly underweight before she got pregnant and access to ££££££ to pay personal trainers is still in maternity clothes 4 weeks after having a baby then us "normal people" have got nothing to worry about.

[WifeofGru]

Hello OP, you can check for muscle separation yourself. You lie flat and do a half sit up and then see how many fingers you can fit between the rectus muscles. After both of mine it was 3 finger breadths and has never gotten smaller than 1 breadth now, and that's with running and metafit. It takes ages for the abdominal muscles to close. Don't worry. Your body just needs more time.

[2Labradors]

Some great advice already but also wanted to say that's its completely normal to be feeling this way too. I'm pregnant with DC3 and I felt like you after giving birth both times and will be exactly the same again I know.
Like you, I was quite active pre-pregnancy, I ran, have our own treadmill, and walk loads with my 2 dogs. I had a few early bleeds, then my placenta was low so no exercise was allowed and then another bleed at 20 weeks. All I can do now is gentle walking, it's rubbish (25+5 now) and I know it's going to take a long time after birth to get back to normal.

You really will get there but it just takes longer than we would want. Hope all goes well tomorrow at your 6 week check.

[gamerchick]

It takes 40 weeks to make a baby.. you really should give yourself the same amount of time to get back to 'normal'.. 6 weeks is nothing.

[MrFranklyShankly]

Thanks ladies, feeling a bit more relaxed about things today....thanks 2labs the check up went fine, got checked for the muscle separation thingy and the nurse said it was fine all normal no major separation that won't correct itself...I told her how down I was about the whole body image and she said it was totally normal but this wasn't really the time to be worrying about it, to be gentle and kind with myself and I will gradually get back to myself again, although my being kind usually involves cake!!!!!

So glad to read your post 2labs, to know I'm not alone, good luck with the rest of your pg and take care, nothing matters more than our precious little bundles :-)

Thanks again ladies

F xx

[MrsBucketxx]

Two years on and I still have a mini bump :(

It wont shift but I got over it, like the others have said six weeks is nothing.